Utica Shale event planned at Covelli

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown/ Warren Regional Chamber announced Wednesday a first-of-its-kind Utica Shale conference and trade show.

The Youngstown Ohio Utica & Natural Gas business-to-business conference, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Covelli Centre, will feature national and local companies and their products and expertise regarding the Utica and Marcellus Shale supply chain.

The conference will provide educational opportunities for the public.

“This is the first event we know of that’s geared toward both the Utica and Marcellus Shale capabilities,” said Walt Good, vice president of economic development, retention and expansion at the chamber. “It’s not just a local event. We’ll be marketing it to companies throughout the country involved in Utica and Marcellus Shale exploration.”

Good said there will be room for about 50 exhibitions, and he expects a large crowd.

“We’re planning and expecting a pretty big event,” he said.

Details on educational sessions and conference speakers will be announced later.

The conference already has landed a few prominent sponsors, including V&M Star, which is investing $650 million in a new rolling mill because of the shale industry, and Chesapeake Energy Corp., which has said Ohio’s Utica Shale could be worth as much as $40 billion.

To sponsor or sign up for a booth, contact Bergen Giordani, director of special events at the chamber, at bergen@regionalchamber.